Sanctions

Donald Trump, Iran and the outcome test after Maximum Pressure, war, ceasefires and negotiations in 2026

Donald Trump, Iran, and the Outcome Test Why the Islamic Republic Still Survives

Introduction Trump’s Iran Policy. Donald Trump built his political case on a simple accusation: America’s Iran policy had failed. Barack Obama had failed. Joe Biden had failed. Diplomacy had failed. Negotiations had failed. Accommodation had failed. Again and again, Trump presented himself as the alternative. He promised strength where others had shown weakness. Pressure where […]

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Who Benefits From Keeping the Islamic Republic Alive? Global question mark showing diplomacy, sanctions, security and human rights institutions linked to regime survival

Who Benefits From Keeping the Islamic Republic Alive? The International Incentive Structure Behind Regime Survival

Introduction   Who benefits from keeping the Islamic Republic alive? For decades, discussions about the Islamic Republic have revolved around a familiar question: Why does the regime survive? The answers usually focus on internal factors. Repression. Ideology. Security institutions. Patronage networks. Control of information. Economic coercion. Political fragmentation among opponents. Each explanation contains an element

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Tracing the Murky Maze: Illicit Financial Flows from Iran and the Conceptual Ambiguity of “Illicit”

Abstract: This paper examines the complexities of tracing illicit financial flows (IFFs) originating from Iran, particularly within the context of prolonged international sanctions. It highlights the challenges in defining and measuring IFFs, especially when activities reside in the gray areas between legality and ethical norms. The paper analyzes the mechanisms employed by Iranian actors to

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